Three years ago today I opened my eyes from a half a nights sleep. I was groggy and anxious and I had a million things to do. I rolled over in bed and kissed Michael. This was it, our wedding day.

We spent the morning scrambling around getting things together. Fourteen groomsmaids needed hair and make up and two best men needed missing cuff-links and buttons. The cakes were still under constuction and two little plastic grooms waited patiently to assume their place on top. The bouquets were being arranged. Signs to the location of the ceremony were being put up then ripped down by the voracious wind. My mother was decorating an altar out of flowers and vines from her garden.
As the time came closer and closer to walk down the aisle everything became increasingly chaotic.
When we finally arrived at the beach we could see our guests waiting to bless our union. If only the best man could find the ring!
The ring was located and the procession began. Fourteen beautiful girls each wearing a white dress with orchids in their hair, each clutching two long stemmed roses, were lead by a tiny little flower princess down the dirt path to the bluffs.
About halfway down the aisle the flower princess tripped and lost her basket. She cried as her petals scattered in the wind. Her mother comforted her in her arms and the procession continued.
We walked down the aisle, Michael, his mother and myself. We were met half way by my mother, her arthritis wouldn't let her walk the entire distance. The four of us together made our way towards our patient guests. As we approached the altar I was overwhelmed by the love radiating from the faces of all the friends and family I have cherished throughout my lifetime. We let go of our mothers hands and grabbed each others.
As we stood facing one another the music stopped and the ceremony began.
We were blessed by our officiator, we were blessed by our friends and family and we were blessed by the four corners of the earth. Particularily the west, which responded to our call with a very strong gust of wind.
As we made our vows we were both so consumed with love and happiness that it weighed on us with a thickness so heavy it felt like grief. Our tears glistened as we looked into each others eyes and vowed to love each other in this world and the next.
We then exchanged our rings and turned to face our loved ones for the first time as married men. In return we saw each face mirrored with the same love and joy we felt in our own hearts.


Three years later, I am still blessed with my husbands love and with the love of all of our friends and family. There may be certain people who do not recognise our marriage and certain laws the try to discount our love, but they are irrelevant.
Our marriage is real in our hearts and in the hearts of the people in our lives who matter most. It is eternal and it will continue in this life and beyond.